Differences Between Chinese and Western Festivals

Spring Festival

春节是指中国传统上的农历新年，俗称"新年”，是中华民族最隆重的传统佳节。

在春节期间，中国的汉族和一些少数民族都要举行各种庆祝活动。这些活动以祭祀祖神、祭奠祖先、除旧布新、迎喜接福、祈求丰收为主要内容，形式丰富多彩，带有浓郁的各民族特色。收到中华文化的影响，属于汉字文化圈的一些国家和民族也有庆祝春节的习俗。人们在春节这一天都尽可能地回到家和亲人团聚，表达对未来一年的热切期盼和对新一年生活的美好祝福。

Symbols of Spring Festival

We hang lanterns and stick Spring couplets.

We have a big family dinner.

Children get red bags and light firecrackers.

We say “Happy New Year”to each other.

We visit our friends and family.

We watch Spring Festival Gala.

Christmas

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.In 4th century is a holiday for the church.By the 12th century,Christmas had become the most important religious festival in Europe.

For most people who celebrate Christmas, this is a special holiday for gathering of family and friends,enjoying delicious foods, and giving gifts.A traditional Christmas dinner in American includes stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes and so on.One of the most important Christmas traditions is receiving gifts from Santa Claus.

Symbols of Christmas Day

People decorate their house.They send Christmas cards, buy Christmas trees and decorate them.They get together and have a big dinner.After dinner, they will give presents to each other.They sing and dance before Christmas tree.They go to the parties.

圣诞节与春节是不同民族不同文化的产物，一个是基督宗教的礼仪文化，一个则是东方几千年的民间传统。虽然两者都在这寒冬的季节创造了一种温馨的气氛，在辞旧迎新中寄托着感恩与希望，但是春节和神丹还是迥然不同的。

从时间上看：西方的年节，大致是有圣诞到新年，前后一周。中国的春节则是从早早地吃一口那又黏又香的腊八粥时，就微博地听到了年的脚步，这年的行程真是太长太长，直到转年正月十五闹元宵，在狂热中才画上句号，算一算，四十天。

从象征物看：西方年节里的圣诞树象征伊甸园的“乐园树”，也就是生命之树、永恒之树，树上挂的小甜饼象征赎罪，点亮的蜡烛象征季度，整个的寓意具有感恩与希望，对新年的丰收和平安充满期盼。中国年节的瓶子、骗过表示平安，进入浴室赋予，瓜蔓是希望儿孙的绵延，桃子则是祈祷长寿，马蜂与猴代表着封侯加官，鸡与菊花都暗喻吉利吉祥，年糕可以用来象征高高兴兴，其全部意义都表现了对喜庆、吉祥、平安、团圆、兴隆、加官、进禄、有余、长寿等的追求。

西方人的年节，特别是对基督徒来说，它代表了耶稣的诞生。他要求人们向需要帮助的人伸出援手。